Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-03-25
drove BY.

NDDl ~ w" mn - univ iiOih wv NNSS VI
the city is situated the captain generals
house. We saw the groves of great palm
trees about it long before our carriages
reached the wide driveway, and passing
the soldiers at the entrance of this we
drove through a shaded avenue up TO a
Large succeed building that would not
seem strange if it were transported to the
suburbs of Paris or Nice. At the gate to
the grounds within uniformed officer
stopped us and some parley ensued before
we were admitted. lt seemed afterward
that our carriages were not up TO the
mark, and it was one of the rules of the pal
ace that only private carriages should en-
ter the grounds A few words from Gen.
Williams passed us onward, however, and
moment later we all stood in the great
salon of the house. Here, while the Sena
tors were holding private audience with
the Captain General, took Il look about
me. Though hot without, it was here rs
cool "a Claude MclnOtte'S ideal palace,
through which blew the halmy breezes of
the Lake of Como. TIE floor was of mar
bic, and the walls were so open that the
air had as free movement rs though out of
doors. The roof WAS upholstered and the
big raiters were painted. Around the big
salon divans, covered with linen and
marked &C. G", were seated, and here
and there about the room rocking chairs
were grouped together. Tropical flowers
grew in pots along the walls and through
IN open doOr-all the doors are open in a
Cuban house. saw another parlOr, with
Il great pyramid of tropical plants in its
center. At the side of this was the dining
room, also open, and the whole seemed
more of great, cool, pleasant play house
for sunny weather than the abode of the
best family in Cuba,
After few mameuts' waiting the Sen
atOrs appeared, accompanied by
THE CAPTIN GENERAL.
The reception was entirely informal, and
his excelency had no badge of office except
red sash, which was wound round
his waist under his coat and fastened at
the center facing us with rosette OF gold.
The captain general is named Emellio Cal
lrias. He il man OF about 80 years of
aye, slight in build, and inclined to stOOp-
ing lie does not weigh over l25 pounds,
and he wore business suit OF black dag
onal which would not be out of place in the
Stock Exchange at Wall street. lie has n
dark, full bearded, pleasant face, with
the curly, brownish black whiskers well
trimmed, bright, black eye, and the
manner of cultured gentleman. He was
introduced to the members OF the party
and shook hands with all. Then he
brought in his daughter, typical Spanish
girl, and one of the most beautiful women
have ever seen. She was about 90 years
OF age, had q rich fair complexion, and her
every motion was grace. She was quite
accomplished and spoke French fuently
and English fairly well. Mrs. Gen. McCOok,
one of the French scholars OF the party,
carried on quite conversation with her,
and shortly after this the young lady
brought in her baby, little coffee cOlOred
tot of five months, whose bright black
ewes looked sOberly from one Senator to
another, and finally seemed most pleased
with Senator Palmer Palmer took it
from its mother during the visit, and
Jumped it up and down with all the skill
of a grandmother nurse. The baby
laughed at him, and 1t did not
cry during our whole visit II
was rather smart baby OF its
age, and the ladies remarked that it was
wearing short clothes at five months
rather sooner than among the Americans.
Its feet were dressed in little white kid
shoes Of the finest glove texture, aud out
of the tops of these, showing against its fat
olive brown little legs, peeped silk stock
ings Of a pale blue. The short dress was
of white cambric, and the mother herself
wore a lawn such as any American girl
would think fit for every day working
wear. The grandfather, the captain gen
eral, was evidently highly pleased with
the attention it received, and he is, doubt
not, os dOting as most grandfatherS.
Before having refreshments the party
were invited TO stroll
THROUGH THE GROUNDS,
and we all went out and walked under the
great royal palms which, with great
gray trunks rs round and smooth as
though turned with lathe, extended as
high rs a church steeple above Us, before
branching out into an umbrella OF big
green leaves We saw flowers whose like
we had never seen before, and the whole
was the ideal tropical garden which you
read about and which your Imagination
fails to realize until it seems before your
eyes. The stables were visited and the
governor general had two magnificent
Spanlsh-Arabian gray horses brought out
and put through their PAGES to the delight
Of Senator Palmer, who il, perhaps, the
greatest lover Of horses in the party.
Then We went into the dining room and
had lunch from China dishes on which the
crown royal OF Spain was painted. While
eating, the Captain General did not sit
down, but stood on. the opposite side Of
the table from Senator Sherman and chat
ted. The baby and its mother were at
the table, and here Senator Palmer again
handled the baby in such a way as made
the other Senator'S eyes green with envy.
Then the wine was poured ont, and the
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